D1 Walk-on Tryout

I'm in a somewhat similar situation. What are your pr's? How do they stack up to other members of the team?

same deal wrote:

I'm in a somewhat similar situation. What are your pr's? How do they stack up to other members of the team?

My 3200m PR is really the only "impressive" one. I've ran 10:01 in the 3200, 16:24 in the 5k, and 4:49 in the 1600. Incoming freshman run a solid 9 or under for the 3200 at the university.

I think it depends on the relationship you have with your coach, and how he feels about walk-ons. Many coaches are smart enough to understand that with running, unlike other sports people DO come out of the woodwork. Anyone willing to bust their ass consistently has a chance grind their way to success. Others can't be bothered with walk-ons.

I was in a similar spot as you some 25 years ago.

I ran myself into the ground over the summer before freshman year and was totally fried come the start of college. (I still managed to break 40min at the Bix 7, even though I had taken the 2 weeks prior off due to a rash I developed from overtraining.)

Between my 1st and 2nd years of college, there was a coaching change. I had given up on running in college and thus didn't train very hard in the summer, plus I had heard from a friend that the new coach (he coached the women's team to multiple NCAA titles and then was given the men's job as well) wasn't taking any walk-ons. I got to school to find that they had a 5k time-trial for walk-ons, and the coach kept EVERYONE. I trained hard for 2 months, then went into the coaches office and confidently (not arrogantly or brashly) told the coach that I was good enough to be his best walk-on right now, and likely could help with the team's depth. (The school primarily was focused on milers and Penn relay success, so they had a need for distance guys like me.)

I had gotten myself into good shape at this point, and it was obvious when I began running with the team that I was the best walk-on they had.

I do not think that I'd have been taken seriously had I not been very fit, even if I knew I could run with those guys. The coach didn't know it, I had to show him.

I think you'd be doing yourself a disservice to yourself if you show up and aren't at your best, and it'll drive you nuts in the future if you didn't put your best foot forward. I also think it is very important to be honest with the coach and let him know that you don't want anything from him/the team other than the chance to contribute, and that you're willing to bleed to make it happen.

To be frank, your PRs are not very strong. It may be best to train your balls off for your first year and then show up at the coaches door in the fall of your sophomore year ready to roll. Good luck.

Is it a big time university or a mid-major school? If it's a big time university (Big 10, SEC, ACC, PAC 10, and similar conferences) I wouldn't get your hopes up. Still try out because you never know what could happen, but probably not. If it's a smaller school, I'd definitely give it a shot! I run for a mid-major D1 school, my high school 3200 PR was 9:06 but my coach will occasionally give a 10 flat 2 miler a chance. Those aren't bad PRs, but know that you've gotta work for it. And 70 mpw is a good chunk, I know every runner is different, but don't act like 70 is undertraining. Just go out and crush these last few weeks before the try out with some hard tempos and workouts and when that try out comes along, be ready to compete. Best of luck to ya.

BonifaceMerande wrote:

I think you'd be doing yourself a disservice to yourself if you show up and aren't at your best, and it'll drive you nuts in the future if you didn't put your best foot forward. I also think it is very important to be honest with the coach and let him know that you don't want anything from him/the team other than the chance to contribute, and that you're willing to bleed to make it happen.

To be frank, your PRs are not very strong. It may be best to train your balls off for your first year and then show up at the coaches door in the fall of your sophomore year ready to roll. Good luck.

Indeed they aren't! I've really only been able to be competitive for a little over 2 years. Prior to then, I was running 30+ minute 5ks and had a bunch of weight on me. So I like to think that if I have a serious conversation with the coach and tell him my story, that maybe he'll let me on. I mean, Chris Derrick ran an 18:09 3 mile his freshman year and then ran a 13:55 his senior year. I like to think I have the potential for that if I put the work in. Thanks for your comment and wishes! Cheers!

Thanks, mate! As the Doctor once said:

"I am and always will be the optimist,

the hoper of far flung hopes,

the dreamer of improbable dreams."

Cheers!